Tuesday, April 19, 2011

NKYSPORTWORLD.BLOGSPOT.COM 2011 NFL MOCK DRAFT

Welcome to the 3rd annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft from nkysportsworld.blogspot.comThis year features a 3 round mock draft and with the draft less than 10 days away on April 28, 2011 lets get started! Enjoy!

ROUND 11. Carolina (2-14): Cameron Newton, QB, AuburnMany believe that Cam Newton is slowly solidifying himself as the #1 pick in the draft. This is not necessarily because he is the best player but because of the unwritten NFL rule that if you pick at the top of the draft and don’t have a franchise QB, you need to go get one.

2. Denver (4-12): Marcell Dareus, DT, AlabamaThis draft is stacked at the defensive line position and the Denver Broncos grab the cream of the crop in their weakest position. Dareus is a very very good player who 319 lb frame will help solidify the Broncos defensive line immensely.

3. Buffalo (4-12): Von Miller, LB, Texas A&MAfter a spectacular NFL combine last month, many people considered Von Miller to be the best player in the entire draft. If Carolina steers away from Newton, don’t be surprised to see Miller go #1. Miller is the full package of size and speed and will fit greatly in a weak Buffalo defense.

4. Cincinnati (4-12): Nick Fairley, DT, AuburnI could see Cincinnati going a number of different ways with this pick. I wouldn’t be surprised or unhappy to see AJ Green here. I wouldn’t balk at the idea of Patrick Peterson either if he falls, since Joseph may be gone and Peterson is considered the best overall player. I think the best QB’s of this draft sit at the top of round 2 and would love to see the Bengals grab a position of need outside QB here at #4. I firmly believe Newton and Gabbert both have bust written all over them and would be upset by selecting either. Fairley is another one year wonder, but gives the Bengals a mean streak player who can get after the quarterback.

5. Arizona (5-11): Blaine Gabbert, QB, MissouriGabbert would be a dream come true for Arizona if he fell all the way to #5. With the flop of Derek Anderson last year and the small upside of late round pick John Skelton, Arizona is still searching for the signal caller that can mesh with Larry Fitzgerald and bring the team back the playoffs.

6. Cleveland (5-11): Da’Quan Bowers, DE, ClemsonBowers is the best DE in the draft and an intriguing player who could find himself going anywhere from #1-10. I think the furthest he falls is to Cleveland at #6 simply because of his upside. Bowers has been struck by injuries especially to the knee but can provide an elite player to a mediocre Browns pass rush.

7. San Francisco (6-10): Patrick Peterson, CB, LSUThe SF 49ers would be salivating to see Peterson fall into their lap this late in the first round. Cornerback is the team’s biggest need and Peterson is by far the best. He just may be the best player in the entire draft. His size and speed mold him into a potential shut-down corner for many years. His ability as a return specialist is also an added bonus if a team finds the need to utilize him as such.

8. Tennessee (6-10): Cameron Jordon, DE, CaliforniaIm sure Tennessee wishes Bowers would fall to them here, however, they instead select the next best DE available in Jordon. Jordon is a big strong end who has the ability to play inside along the interior or slide outside and rush the quarterback. Jordon’s arrival could add to the Titans long line of DE’s of late who have made a living at getting to the quarterback.

9. Dallas (6-10): Anothony Costonzo, OT, Boston CollegeIt was evident after last season and the injury to Tony Romo that the greatest need for the Cowboys this season was along the offensive line. Dallas could select USC OT Tyron Smith here, but Costonzo is a more intelligent and fundamentally sound player who can play the blind side and protect Romo from another injury plagued season.

10. Washington (6-10): AJ Green, WR, GeorgiaThe Washington Redskins have more needs than Jamarcus Russell in a buffet line. For this reason, they go with best player available and that is AJ Green. Green is the top WR and has the potential making of an Andre Johnson type receiver. He is a big physical receiver who can get down the field, drops few passes, and scores a ton of touchdowns. Now all he needs is a QB to throw to him.

11. Houston (6-10): Robert Quinn, OLB, North CarolinaHouston sits in a pretty good position to take the next best player available on the defensive side of the ball. With a stacked offense and very few true needs across the board, Houston may take a flyer on a player such as Quinn. He has tremendous upside and potential to be a force in the 3-4 defense but has a great deal of question marks after sitting out all of last season for NCAA infractions.

12. Minnesota (6-10): Julio Jones, WR, AlabamaJulio Jones ran a blistering 40 yard dash at the NFL combine and that was with a broken foot. Jones is an excellent athlete, but this recent injury brings questions to his durability. Jones has the potential to be an all-pro wide receiver and with question marks surrounding Percy Harvin as well as the potential loss of Sydney Rice, Minnesota could use a weapon to stretch the field on the offensive side of the ball.

13. Detroit (6-10): Prince Amukamara, CB, NebraskaYou can never have too many cornerbacks. The problem with Detroit is that they hardly have any at all. With CB as their biggest need, Detroit would run to the podium to select Amukamara, who is easily the 2nd best CB in the draft and has proven through the NFL combine that he can be an elite player.

14. St. Louis (7-9): Corey Liuget, DT, IllinoisSt. Louis would love to see Julio Jones fall to them at #14, but I don’t think that will be the case. Instead, St. Louis goes after their second biggest position of need along the defensive line. Liuget is a bit undersized but very versatile and an excellent pass rusher who will be a large upgrade next to Fred Robbins on the defensive line.

15. Miami (7-9): Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, PurdueRyan Kerrigan is the type of player that every team wishes to have. He was in school 4 years and a 3 year starter at Purdue. He was a team captain with a high motor and blue collar attitude, but most of all no character issues. Kerrigan will fill a need along the Miami defense with his strong work ethic and ability to rush the quarterback.

16. Jacksonville (8-8): JJ Watt, DE, WisconsinJJ Watt is potentially the best 3-4 DE in the entire NFL draft. In the same mold of Kerrigan, Watt is a high motor player with a blue collar attitude. He will tremendously help an ailing Jacksonville front line that had only three sacks the final five games of the regular season in 2010.

17. New England (14-2) -- from Oak: Tyron Smith, OT, USCSmith has been linked to Dallas at #9, but could fall to NE here if Dallas goes in a separate selection. However, don’t be surprised to see Smith and Costonzo flip flop here. Smith is a massive offensive tackle projected to play the left side. His size and speed would be well served to protect Tom Brady, especially with the recent hold out problems along the line in NE last year. Either way, Belichek turns a number of offensive lineman into pro-bowlers in a short time frame.

18. San Diego (9-7): Aldon Smith, OLB, MissouriSan Diego would love to see JJ Watt fall to them, but would settle for a 3-4 OLB like Smith. Smith is an athletic pass rusher with raw athleticism and is a lock for the top 20. He is a potential double digit sack artist in waiting, even though his numbers at Missouri didn’t rate as highly due to some missed game action last year.

19. New York Giants (10-6): Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama Mark Ingram is the best player available at this point and just the type of bruising hard nosed running back Tom Coughlin likes. With questions surrounding Brandon Jacobs last season and the always growing need for multiple serviceable running backs, the Giants may jump on Ingram. If it weren’t for question marks surrounding Ingram’s knee, the former Heisman trophy winner would have been a top 5 pick.

20. Tampa Bay (10-6): Justin Houston, DE, GeorgiaTampa Bay needs help now at the defensive line position. Houston overwhelmed at the NFL combine and has been shooting up draft boards. His ability to play both the DE and OLB position makes him a viable candidate to be a versatile option in a 4-3 setting.

21. Kansas City (10-6): Phil Taylor, DT, BaylorKansas City may surprise some people here with the pick of Taylor, but with a number of defensive lineman flying off the board early they may get desperate to fill a large need. Taylor a big space filling tackle who is projected closer to the middle of the 2nd round but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him slide up some draft boards with the run on defensive lineman.

22. Indianapolis (10-6): Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi StateIndianapolis doesn’t have a great deal of needs but would love to add depth to their offensive line. Don’t be surprised if Carimi is the pick here, but Sherrod is a very intelligent and athletic tackle. He has the agility to fit into the Colts’ zone blocking scheme and was very good in a difficult SEC stacked with pass rushers. Though he may start at right tackle, Sherrod will eventually evolve to play the blind side.

23. Philadelphia (10-6): Jimmy Smith, CB, ColoradoSmith is a potential lock-down corner who would have been a potential top 10 pick if not for a variety of character issues. Smith is the 3rd best CB in a class with a large drop off after the first three. Philadelphia desperately needs a shut down corner and has never shied away from character concerns in the past.

24. New Orleans: Adrian Clayborn, DE, IowaClayborn is an interesting player with great upside. He has minor character issues, which combined with injury concerns and down year last year could see him slip potentially out of the first round. New Orleans has a potent offense and the ability to wait on a player learn and mature for a few seasons. If Clayborn reaches his full potential, he could be a first round steal.

25. Seattle (7-9): Muhammed Wilkerson, DT, TempleWilkerson is a bit of an unknown after playing college at Temple and may be better suited as a DE in the 3-4 rather than a DT. However, as a 6’4 315 pound lineman he also has the potential to be a clog and anchor at the point of attack in the run game.

26. Baltimore (12-4): Leonard Hankerson, WR, MiamiThe Ravens have very few needs and are attempting to solidify depth through the NFL draft. For this reason, they may reach for a young WR in order to infuse some new blood in a quickly aging receiving corp. Hankerson is not a game changing WR with blistering speed, but more of a dependable possession receiver that could be well served learning the ropes from some of Baltimore’s vets. Don’t be surprised to see Baltimore trade back for more picks here or draft Jimmy Smith is he’s available.

27. Atlanta (13-3): Nate Solder, OT, ColoradoAtlanta has what may be the best offense in the NFL. Their biggest need remains an upgrade at LT from Sam Baker. Solder is the best available OT and projects to a well developed pass blocker on the left side allowing Matt Ryan to better utilize his offensive weapons.

28. New England (14-2): Jason Pinkston, OG, PittsburghNew England is the only team with two first round picks and utilizes their second straight pick on the offensive line here. This pick is another attempt solidify pieces around Tom Brady and re-establish the run game.

29. Chicago (11-5): Stephen Wisniewski, OC, Penn StateWisniewski is the only center projected with a first round grade. They would love for one of the top offensive tackles to slip to them, however, the draft doesn’t fall that way this time. Wisniewski has the potential to play center or guard at the NFL level which may help his stock.

30. New York Jets (11-5): DeAndre McDaniel, SS, ClemsonMcDaniel is probably more suited as a 2nd round pick and a bit of a reach here, but New York has the biggest need in the safety position and McDaniel is the best of the bunch. McDaniel ran a poor 4.63 in the 40 yard dash, but has excellent tackling and highlight reel hitting ability that fits perfectly into Rex Ryan’s in the box style defense.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Brandon Harris, CB, MiamiPittsburgh is another team craving CB help and hoping one of the big three falls. Instead, they reach for a player in Harris with an average skill set hoping he can be coached to play a stout defense. If Pittsburgh looks for more of a burner, CB Davon House may go here after his 4.35 40 yard dash.

32. Green Bay Packers (10-6): Gabe Carimi, OT, WisconsinCarimi may go earlier, but would fit nicely with the NFL Super Bowl Champs. Carimi is a massive body and more of a run mauler type of offensive tackle, but is one of the few tackles in this draft who could play the left side and do so as a rookie from day one.

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